Method of making pastry products



METHOD OF MAKING PASTRY PRODUCTS Original Filed Dec. 7, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 i 72 I @I I I In venfoz w LL 0 YD a. HARR/ss BfRA A R 0 LA MBERJ June 1945- L. J. HARRISS ET AL 2,377,936

METHOD OF'MAKING PASTRYPRODUCTS Original Filed Dec. '7, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Berna-rd [an ers June 12, 1945. L. J. HARRISS ET AL METHOD OF MAKING PASTRY PRODUCTS Original Filed Dec. '7, 1939 10. Sheets-s 4 NV 5 ix Bernard lg ers June 12, 1945. L. J. HARRIS S ET AL 2,377,936

METHOD OF MAKING PASTRY PRODUCTS Original Filed Dec. '7, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet s 22 Zamens' L. J. HARRISS ET AL 2,377,936

METHOD OF MAKING PASTRY PRODUCTS- June.12, 1945.

' Original Filed Dec. 7, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 .W a m AM Izade nicks. [20 121 J 12 607236.

' Beraaza 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 L. J. HARRISS ET AL METHOD OF MAKING PASTRY PRODUCTS Original Filed Dec. 7, 1939 June 12, 1945.

Inventor-3' .4 1! f orneyis June 12, 1945. L. J. HARRISS ET AL 2,377,936

METHOD OF MAKING PASTRY PRODUCTS Original File'd Dec. 7, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 i A Index/Z0245 110 0 J flay/Z15 JQIMJ la'mers' June 12, 1945. J. HARRISS ET AL 2,377,936

METHOD OF MAKING PASTRY PRODUCTS Original Filed Dec. '7, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 1o Index/Z 073 gall ffzrrals Iermra Z4Wz&e1:s.

Waieiited June i2, i

, UNITED STATES accuses METHOD or MAKING PASTRY rnooos Lloyd J.

Harries, Kenilworth, and ram-d Lambers, Oak Park, Ill. said Lambers is to said Harries charms. {or llll fill view taken in the direction oi the arrows along Uur invention contemplates andprovides a novel and advantageous method or g pies, in which a pic that has been filled and iorovidecl with a top crust automatically has performed upon it the operations of trimming the excess crust from the edge or the pie tin, raising a pie crust head of thicker section around the periuherv oi the pie, dusting flour upon the thickened portion, and finally kneading the head to provide the pie with a crimped edge.

In the past, the amount of shortening which could be used in a pie crust dough has been limited by the iact that pic making machinery with which we are acquainted puts considerable strain upon the unbaked pie crust, thus necessitating the use oi a tough dough having a relatively low shortening content. Also, the stickiness of 'unbaked pie crust dough increases as the proportion of shortening is increased. This increases the culty of preventing dough having a large proportion of shortening from adhering to the dough wormng machinery.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved method for making pastry products such as pies.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a reading of the following description 01 a preferred embodiment of this invention.

In the drawings in which like parts are designated by like numerals throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a plan view of a machine embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is. a vertical sectional view of the machine shown in Fig. 1 taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 3-3 or Fla. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the machine taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 4-4 of Fig: 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view of the crust trimming and bead forming head, shown associated with the pie carrying and lifting mechanlsm, illustrated partly in elevation and partly in section, withthe plane of the section taken in the direction or the arrows along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the direction 01' the arrows along the line 80 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 shows the interior structure of the flour the line ll-ll of its. i;

Fig. vll is a horizontal sectional view taken in the direction or the arrows along the line t@ ill or Fig. l and shows in detail the pawl-and ratchet step-on mechanism which actuates the hour sitter;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view talren. in the direction or the arrows along the line 8+9 at Fig. "i;

Fig. it is a vertical sectional view talsenin the direction at the arrows along the line ilk-it oi Fla. 3; v

.Fig. ll. is a horizontal-sectional view taken in the direction or the arrows along the line ill-ii of Fig. ill;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the direction or the arrows along the line lit-ill of Fig. 2;

Fig. 1a is a developed view or the crimping ele- 2; Fig. 15 is a developed view of the cam which operates the pie rack lifting mechanism; and

Fig. 16 is a vertical sectionalvlew taken inthe direction of the arrows along the line lt-lt of Fla. 1;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2, but showing an alternative embodiment of our r chine;

Fig; 1a is a. plan view similar to Fig. l, but illustrating the alternative embodiment shown in section in Fig. 17;

sifting mechanism and is 'a vertical sectional Fig. 19 is a horizontal sectional view similar to Fig. 3', but illustrating the alternative embodiment shown in Figs. 17 and 18; and

Fig. 20 is a vertical medial sectional view of the crimping mechanism used in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 17 to 19. I a

The frame for the machine comprises a base 20, an upright central tube 22 rising therefrom, and afiat semi-circular table 24 rigidly attached to the upper end of this tube. As shown, the base consists of four outwardly radiating legs, each of which ls supplied with a diagonally upwardly extending brace 28 welded to a solid block 21 secured to the central tube 22 by means of bolts 29. By means of this construction, the central tube, the legs, and the bracing bars are secured into a rigid unit. The top plate it is securely bolted to a, flange 28 at the upper end or a collar III which embraces the uppermost end means of bolts 32.

The section of the tube 22 between the block 21 and the flanged collar 38 carries a pair of ball bearings 38 and 48 spaced apart by a tube 42. The outer races of these bearings '38 and 48 are seated in the ends of a cylinder 44, the lower end of which rests upon a ball thrust bearing 46 supported by the upper surface of the block 21. Thus, the cylinder 44 is freely rotatable about the shaft 22 on anti-friction bearings 38, 48 and 46.

Thecylinder 44 at a point slightly below its midsection is provided with six outwardly radiating arms 48 which are bolted, welded, or otherwise suitably secured thereto. The outward ends of these arms 48 are suitably secured to vertically disposed cylindrical columns 58. A hole 52 extends centrally through each of these columns 58 and is provided at each end with bushings 54, through which a central rod 56 slides freely. A pie carrying tray 58. is attached to the upper end of the rod 56 by means of a set screw 68, so that by raising and lowering the rod 56, the tray 58 may be raised and lowered therewith. To prevent rotation of the-tray 58 with respect to the column 58, the shaft 56 is provided with a longitudinally extending kerf 62 into which the end of a pin or set screw 64, secured in the column 58, extends. finished appearance, a sleeve 66 is attached to the lower surface of the pie supporting tray 58 and moves upwardly and downwardly over the outer surface of the block 58 as the tray 58 is raised and lowered.

By means of the mechanism described above, it will be seen that the pie-holding tray 58 may be moved about a vertical axis formed by the tube 22, and that itmay be raised and lowered by raising and lowering the rod, 56.

As shown in Figs, 1 and 2, the plate 24 carries an electric motor 88 belted to a speed reduction To give the tray supporting column a I of the tube 22, and is rigidly attached thereto by I asvzose rod 84, the slots 88 and 98 will be open to the outside at allpoints in the stroke to receive the inward ends of levers 96 and 98, the utility which will be indicated shortly.

To prevent rotation of the shaft 84 in the tube 22, a slot I88 in the tube 22 and flanged collar 38, through which the block 82 extends, is fitted to the sides of the block so that the block is free to move upwardly and downwardly, but is restrained against movement from side to side. An opening I82 is provided in the tube 22 and collar 38 opposite the head of the screws 86 so that by moving the rod 84 upwardly and downwardly slightly, these screw heads 86 may be broughtinto register with this hole I82 to allow assembly or disassembly of the cam following mechanism.

Referring to Fig. in which this cam I6 is shown in detail, it will be seen that it is secured to a central shaft I84 which is mounted on an anti-friction bearing I86 carried in a central pillar I88 secured to the lower surface of the shelf 24. The upper end of this shaft I84, and the lower end of the downwardly extending shaft I2 leading from the speed reduction gear box are connected by means of a universal coupling II8.

This structureenables a very rigid mounting-for the cam I6, while at the same time preventing the possibility of binding if the parts are slightly misaligned.

The upper end of the revolving tube 44 carries a disc II2 provided with a plurality of equally radially spaced slots H4, in this instance 6, inasmuch as the machine is designed to carry 6 pies gear box I8. This speed reduction gear box 18 may be of any suitable construction so that its output shaft I2 turns at a speed of approximately 10 R. P. M. It will be understood that other speeds may be used, but the speed given is proper for the embodiment illustrated which rims approximately 600.pies an hour.

The upper end of the shaft I2 is provided with a sprocket I4, the utility of which will be described presently.

The lower end of theshaft I2 extends through the table 24 and drives a drum cam"|.6, the track 11 of which is shown developed in Fig. 15. As shown in this developed view, as the track is moved along a following roller I8 until the roller reaches the point marked A, furtheradvance of the cam quickly pushes the roller I8 downwardly to the point B, while still further advance of the cam causes a gradual further depression of the roller I8 until the roller reaches the point marked C. From this time forward, the roller is kept at a constant level until the cam track 'advances to the point D, whereupon the roller is raised to its initial level for another cycle.

The roller I8 is rotatably secured to a block 82, which in turn is rigidly attached to a reciprocating plunger 84, by means of the three screws 86. The plunger 84 extends downwardly through the central stationary tube 22 and is provided at its lower end with a pair of slots 88 and 98. Opposite the slots 88 and 98, the tube 22 is cut away at 92 and 94, so that as the cam I6 revolves, thereby raising and lowering the central reciprocating at a time. These slots H4 in conjunction with a downwardly extending roller II6, rotatably secured to the lower surface of the cam I6, form a step-off mechanism, so that with each revolumachine for each revolution of the cam I6, it will be seen that this mechanism does not provide for locking the pie racks in the several positions as would a conventional Geneva mechanism. For reasons which will be appreciated later, we prefer to do this looking at a point remote from the I center of the machine in a manner to be described.

The stationary block 21 carries two horizontal outwardly radiating arms H8 and I28 provided with bushings I22 and I24, respectively, at their outward ends to form the bearing members for vertically disposed rods I26 and I28, respectively. The radial distance of the rods I26 and I28 from the center of the machine is the same as that of the pie-tray supporting rods 16.. The lower end of the rods I26 and I28 are rectangular and have horizontal slots I38 and I32 on their vertical surfaces, the horizontal edges of which engage the upper and lower surfaces of rollers I34 and I36. which are secured on a. horizontal axis to the levers 96 and 98, respectively. The mid-points of these levers 96 and 98 are pivoted at I38 and I48, respectively, so that as the central rod 84 is moved upwardly and downwardly by the cam l6, these levers 96 and 98 will be rocked about their pivot points I38 and I48, thereby causing a raising and lowering of the shafts I26 and I28, respectively.

The upper ends of the shafts I28 and I28 carry lifting buttons I42 and I44, respectively, threaded thereon, so-that by rotating these buttons they may be adjusted to different vertical positions on are secured against movement on the shafts I26 and I28 by means of set screws I46 and I48. Although the upper surface of the lifter I42, which is positioned beneath the dough trimming rollers to be described presently, is flat, the lifter I beneath the crimping mechanism, also to be described later, is provided with a socket I50. Thus, when a pie is raised beneath the crimping mechanism, the socket I 50 engages the lower end of the rod 56, thereby locking the pie-carrying mechanism against rotation until the pie is again lowered from beneath the crimping mechanism and the socket I50 disengaged from the shaft 56.

The reason that we prefer to lock the rotating pie-carrying mechanism at this particular point is that the crimping mechanism in performing, its operation requires the most accurate locatio of the pie relative thereto, and this being true, it appears to be preferable to lock the machine at this point rather than at the center of the machine, or at .some other one of the working stations.

It should be understood, of course, that the step-oil disc H2 is so placed on the column 44 that as the mechanism is stepped off one-sixth of a revolution with each revolution of the cam 16, this step-off mechanism will. properly locate the rod 56 with relation to the socket I50. In

order to compensate for any slight inaccuracy in wardly curved portion I12 forms a bead of pie crust around the periphery of the pie. It is this raised head which is formed into a crimped edge by the crimping mechanism. As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper end of'the shaft I 58 carries a sprocket I18 for the purpose of driving the shaft.

The flour sifting mechanism comprises a container I18, which may be made of sheet metal or any other suitable material, secured in proper location beneath the table 28 by means of slide rails I80 attached thereto between which an annular flange I82 attached to the upper end of leaving only a narrow annular ring I88 of the wire mesh uncovered.

An agitator 202 extends obliquely downwardly and rests upon the wire meshI98. A plurality of this relationship, thelower ends of the rods 56 are beveled in order to aid their seating in the socket I50.

To catch any pie crust that may fall from the pies during the rimming operations, a sheet metal table I52 may be provided just above the radiating arms 48. This table is provided with holes to fit around the posts 50, and around the central member 44, and rotates with the pie .carrying mechanism.

The pie crust trimming mechanism, which is a pie when lifted by the rod I26, consists of a vertical spindle I58 extending through a pillar substantially equally spaced pins 204 extend radially from the lower extremity of the agitator 202 and are positioned across the exposed portion of the mesh I88 to serve as agitating bars. These bars agitate the flour and cause a portion ofit to fall through the wire meshon to the periphery of the pie when the agitator 202 is rotated.

The agitator 202 is driven' by a shaft 206 attached thereto and extending upwardly through a journal 208 supported from the sides of the container I18 on a spider 2I0. The upper end of the shaft 206 lies slightly below the table 20'and has a kerf 2I2 extending across the end thereof.

I56 and journaled at each end in anti-friction bearings I58. For convenience in assembly, the pillar I56 is made in an upper and a lower part, both of which aresecured to the table 24 by means of screws I60. The lower end of the shaft I54 has a cross piece I62 secured thereto in any suitable manner, such as by a set screw not shown. Two oppositely extending horizontal shafts I86 are threaded into the cross piece I62,

and at their outward ends carry freely rotating pie crust cutting wheels I66, mounted thereon by means of anti-friction bearings I68. The outer periphery of these wheels, as best'shown in Fig.5, is so shaped that as a pie is lifted beneath these cutters, while the shaft I5lis1rotating, and outer lip I10 of the cutters I 66 extends downwardly pastthe top surface of the pie plate .and cuts away the excess pie crust extending be- A pillar 2 is attached to the upper surface of the table 20 and has a shaft 2I6 extending therethrough keyed to a bushing 218. The lower end of the shaft 2I6 is provided with a collar 220 adapted to fit over the end of the shaft 206.

A. key 222 extends across the lower end of the I shaft 2 I6 and serves to engage the kerf 2I2. The

bushing 2I8 rotates within the pillar 2H and is secured therein by a collar 223. The upper end of this bushing is of reduced diameter and extends through the collar 223 and is threaded to a collar 225 which secures in place a ratchet wheel to be described. f

Surrounding the shaft 2I6 and extending between the upper surface of the sleeve 220 and the lower surface of the bushing 2 I8 is positioned a spring 224 which tends to urge the shaft 2I6 downwardly. By means of this construction, the shaft 2I6 can be grasped at its top and lifted against the pressureof the spring 224, thereby disengaging the key 222 from the kerf 2I2 and enabling the container I18 and the agitating mechanism therein tov be withdrawn from the of an 8 curve. Thus, as the pie is raised beneath these rollers, and the lip I10 trims the pie crust from the edge of the tin, the portion I14 pushes the top pie crust directly'therebeneath, down wardly somewhat, so that it will not interfere with the crimping mechanism which will be described presently, and simultaneously the up:

slide I80, so that it maybe cleaned or refilled. After cleaning and filling, the container can he slid back into position and the rod 2I6 lowered, 0

thereby engaging the key 222 in the 'kerf 2I2 so that the agitating mechanism may be driven by the shaft 2I6'. In this position the shaft 6 is supported by a collar 221 at its top secured thereto bya set screw 228.- A ratchet wheel 226, previously mentioned, is keyed to the bushing 2 I8 and serves as a step-off mechanism to rotate the bushing M8 and the agitator 2I2. A lever 288 is swiveled at the top of the pillar 2 on a collar 282 and carries a pawl 284 urged into engagement with the ratchet wheel 228 by a spring 288. a

Two cams 238, best seen in Figs. 2 and 16, are attached to the lower surface of the sprocket 14 by screws 248. The outer end of the lever 288 extends beneath the sprocket 14 and is urged into contact with the cams 238 by a coil spring 242, so that as the sprocket 14 revolves, it will twice during each revolution cause one of the cams 288 to be brought into contact with the lever 238 and cause the lever to be oscillated to the left, as seen in Fig. 1. A stop, not shown, beneath the sprocket 14 limits the inward motion of the lever 288 under the influence of the spring 242. The cams 288, as shown in Fig. 16, are supported in an oil-center position, so that the amount of throw given the lever 288 asthe cam moves past the lever may be adjusted by clamping the cams against the sprocket 14 in different positions. The cams 288 should be so located on the sprocket 14 that they will cause two Oscillations of the lever 288 in the time interval during which each of the pies is held stationarily beneath the flour sifter. a We prefer to use two cams each of which rotates the agitator slightly, rather than one larger cam, since the amount of flour thus deposited seems to be more easily controllable and the mechanism more positive in its operation. It will be appreciated, however, that under some circumstances only one cam, or more than two cams could be used.

The next revolution of the step-off mechanism I I2 brings the pie on which the flour has been sifted to a position beneath the crimping mechanism, the axis of rotation of which is coaxial with above the pie lifter I44.

As best seen in Fig. 2, the pie crimping mechanism comprises a vertical column 288 mounted upon the table 24 and has a vertical shaft 248 extending therethrough journaled at each end upon anti-friction bearings 242. The top of the shaft 248 carries a sprocket 244 by means of which the mechanism is driven.

To drive the crimping mechanism as wellas the pie crust trimmer a continuous chain. 248 is linked around the sprockets 244, I18, the driving sprocket 14, and an idling sprocket 248, which is adjustably mounted upon the table 24 in a mam ner well known and serves to adjust the slack in the chain 248. Thus, as the sprocket 14 is revolved by the motor 88, it will drive both the pie crust cutting mechanism and the crimping mechanism. The relative sizes of the three sprockets 14, I18, and 244 are adjusted so that as the sprocket 14 revolves at a speed of approximately .10 P. M., the sprocket I18 revolves ata speed approximately 60 R. P. M., while sprocket 244 re-, wolves at about 40 3.1. M. It will be understood that these relative speeds are not critical, and

that wide variations may be made therefrom without impairing the etllciency of the machine.

' However, having been found satisfactory in service, these relative speeds are given for purposes of illustration. I

the outer periphery of the pie plate as the shaft.

288 is moved in a circle about the axis of the shaft 248. The purpose of this roller is to prevent the crimping mechanism, which will be described shortly, from pushing the pie tin sideways out of the pie tin carrying rack 88.

' The opposite end of the shaft 284 from that I just mentioned extends obliquely downwardly and is secured to, or may be made integrally with a gear casev 288. This gear case 288 contains two shafts 288 and 218 journaled therein on antifriction bearings. These two shafts are mounted obliquely to each other at an acute angle, and near the top of the gear case 288 these shafts carry meshed pinions 212 and 214, respectively, so

that the two shafts will revolve together when either is turned. ,The shaft 218, which is the farther removed of the two from the shaft 248, extends vertically through the gear case and carries at its topmost end a planet gear 218 which meshes with the sun gear 258. Thus, as the shaft 248 revolves and swings the gear casing 288 around its axis of rctation the planet gear 218 will runaround the sun gear'288, and cause the two shafts 288 and 218 to revolve on their respective axes.

The lower end of the shafts 288 and 218 carry meshed crimping members 218 and 288, respectively. "The configuration of the crimpers that we prefer to use is shown in Fig. 13, although it will be understood that wide variations from the design shown can be made, depending upon the form of the crimp it is desired to use.

In order to prevent the pie crust from being torn by these crimpers, the gear 258 has a pitch diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the pie, while the pitch diameter of the gear 218 is equal to the pitch diameter of the crimping element 288. By arranging the gear sizes thus, the crimping members may be permitted to run around the periphery of the pie more than once without disturbing the crimp formed in the pie crust on the first circuit.

To prevent dirt from entering the mechanism above the table 24 and to give the machine a neat appearance, a hood 282 of sheet metal or other suitable material may be placed over this portion of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 2.

\ In operation, the operator removes the crimped pies and replaces them by pies to be operated upon at any one or more of the three exposed stations of the machine. The pies to be operated upon then move beneath the trimming and beadi'ormingstation where'the rollers I88 revolving around'the spindle I84 shape the pie crust to form a bead and trim the surplus from the edge of the pie tin as previously described when the cam-I8 and its associated mechanism forces the The shaft 240 extends through the table 24 z and through the center of a sun gear 288, rigidly secured to the under side of the table 24 in any suitable manner. For instance, as shown, the gear may be drilled and tapped, thereby using the same bolts 282 to secure both the pillar 288 and the. gear 288 to thetable 24, as best shown in Fig. 2.

pie upwardly beneath these rollers. After the pie is lowered, the roller 8 steps of! the Pie carrying mechanism one-sixth of a revolution, thus bringing the pie being operatedupon beneath the flour sifting mechanism at the next stations While beneath this station the two cams 288 on-the sprocket 14 reciprocate the lever 288 and deposit a small amount of flour around the I periphery of the pie on the bead previolllly formed. The next rotation of the cam 16 brings the pie beneath the crimping station where the cam I6 and its associated mechanism raise the lifter I44. This lifter engages the shaft 56 there.-

by locking the table against rotation, and lifts the pie into engagement with the crimping elements. 218 and 280. The pie is held in this lifted position for a short interval of time during which the crimping elements are run aroundthe periphcry of the pie and form the crimp in the bead previously formed in the manner described in connection with the description of the crimping mechanism. On further revolution of the cam 16, the pie is lowered and the'table stepped off another sixth of a revolution, thus, bringing the pie to a position where the operator can remove it from the pie rack and replace it with another pie to be operated upon.

Ordinarily as pies come to the crimping ma? chine they will have enough flour on the top crust to prevent the trimming and bead forming rollers from sticking. After this trimming operation, however, the flour originally on the pie will have been kneaded into the crust, thus making it advisable toprovide the flour sifter shown. If previous operations do not leave enough flour on the'pie to .prevent its sticking to the cutting and bead forming rollers, it is advisable to use two flour sifters, one before each of the kneading stations. In ordinary use, however, we believe that the one shown and described will be suiiicient.

Under certain conditions enough iiour might he placed upon the pie before the pie arrives at the first working station to prevent the crust from sticking to either the bead forming or the crimping mechanism. This would obviate the necessity of the flour sitter in the position shown and described in the preferred embodiment.

It will be understood that another expedient for preventing sticking would be to blow the flour it to the pie crust, although we prefer to accomplish the result sought in the manner illustrated.

and described, since it does not have the disprevent the "and the machine shown in Figs. 17 to 20 lacks the bead forming-mechanism and tray lifting mechanism positioned beneath this head forming mechanism.

' onto the working elements rather than applying For convenience in referring to the figures illustrating these two embodiments, like elements in the two machines are indicated by like numerals,- 6

and where no difierence exists between the two machines, the-description is not repeated.

Since the bead forming mechanism is absent from this alternative embodiment, it will be seen that the drive chain 246' is shorter than the similar chain 246 in the previously described embodiment.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 17 to 20,- the combined trimming and crimping head, indicated generally b the numeral 300, consists of the rotatable vertical spindle 246 journaled in anti-friction bearings 242 at each end ofthe pillar 236. This pillar 238 is secured to the top surface of the platform 24 in such aposition that the spindle 240. is axially aligned with a pie on whichever one of the pie carrying racks 68 is in position to be raised .by the lifting element i 50. The top end of the spindle 240 carries a sprocket 244 keyed thereto and driven by the chain 246'. Thus, this spindle 240 is in continuous rotation whenever the machine is in operation.

-The spindle 246 extends through the table it and through the center of a sun gear 302, rigidly secured to the under side of the table 24 in any suitable manner, such, for instance, as by the same screws 364 that secure the pillar 238 to the upper surface of the table.

The lower end of the spindle 24n-is secured to the horizontal leg of a generally L-shaped swinging arm 306. A downwardly extendingleg 3138 of this arm carries a vertical shaft 3l0-journaled therein and provided at its upper end with a planetpinion 302 meshed with the sun gear 362. This arrangement is, in general, similar to that of the previous embodiment, but it should be noted that the shaft 3| 0, as it is swung around on the arm 306, describes a circle considerably smaller than that formed by the edge of the pie plate, whereas the shaft 210 extends downwardly outside the periphery of the pie plate.

The lower end of the shaft 3l0'is provided with a beveled pinion 3M meshed with a beveled gear 316 mounted'for free rotation upon a horizontal stub shaft 3|3. For convenience in manufacturing-thecrimping head,the'stub shaft 3] 8 is shown formed as a separate piece secured to the arm by screws 320. It will be understood, however, that, if desired,.this,stub shaft can be formed as a unitary portion of the arm.

The beveled gear :16 meshes in turn with asimilar gear 322 mounted for free rotation upon an obliquely downwardly projecting stub shaft 324 formed as part of the vertical leg 3% of the arm 306. Both of the gears 3I6 and'322-are secured to meshed crimping elements 326 and 323, respectively, by means of screws 330 and 332.

The gear and crim'per elements arepreventedfrom sliding axially on the stub sha'fts by a collar 334 secured on the outward end of the stub shaft j M6 by a set screw 336. and a washer 3313 held against the end of the stub shaft 324by a screw When the vertical Spindle 240 is rotated, the,

. crimping elements 328 and 326 will run around the edge of the pie supported upon the rack 63, much in the manner as explained in the previously described embodiment. 'I'hecrimping element 326, however, is provided at its outer face'with a rubber ring 342 held in place by a plate 344 secured against the outward face of the crimper 326 by screws 346. This rubber ring 342 extends beyond the edge of the crimper 3'26 and rubs against the edge of the pie plate, as shown best in Fig. 20. The shearing action, of the rubber ring .342 rubbing against the'edge of the pie plate serves to cut oil whateverexcess pie crust dough is squeezed outwardly from between the meshed crimping elements 323 and 326. The reason that we prefer'to make the ring 342 of rubber, or some other resilient material itself to. working against the edges of pie plates which may become nicked or slightly bent. This ring also serves to take the sidewise thrust the crimping elements exert against the pie, and it is that it better adapts ccpendlngapplication serial No. 307,976, filed December '7, 1939, and issued January 14, 1941,

as Patent No. 2,228,518.

Although we have shown a preferred embodiment of our. invention, it will be understood that variations can be made therefrom, while still incorporating the novel features herein disclosed. It will be understood therefore, that the scope of this invention is to be determined by an inspection of the following claims. v

Having described a preferred embodiment of our invention, what we claim as new and useful and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: a

1. In a method of crimping a filled pie the steps which comprise subjecting the juncture of the upper and lower crust of a filled unbaked pie to successive internaland external pressures applied progressively around the periphery of the pie, the internal pressure being applied against the upper crust of the pie adjacent said juncture obliquely in a downward and outwardly direction at spaced intervals and the external pressure being applied against said juncture in an inwardly direction at spaced intervalsalternately of the spaced intervals to which the internal pressure is applied, and holding the pie against rotation during the application of said internally and externally applied pressures.

2. ,In a method of crimping a pie the step which comprises subjecting the portion of an unbaked pie dough carried by the edge of a pie pan to the application of internal and external pressures applied progressively and orbitally around the pie dough independently of any rotational movement of the pie pan, the internal pressure being applied against said portion of said pie dough in a downwardly and outwardly direction at spaced intervals and the external pressure being applied against saidportion of said pie dough in an inwardly direction at spaced intervals alternately of the spaced intervals to which the internal pressure is applied.

' LLOYD J. HARRISS.

BERNARD LAMBERS. 

